Wolf gets embarrassed in budget fight, ex-Mayor Reed’s home is raided and Sestak embraces the Forrest Gump label. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!
PA-Gov: Wolf Loses First Budget Fight…Sort Of: The Governor got embarrassed but it’s less than meets the eye.
DEVELOPING: Agents Raiding Former Harrisburg Mayor’s House: Former Mayor Stephen Reed’s home is currently being searched by officers from the Attorney General’s office.
PA-Gov: Wolf Prepares Back-Up Plan in Case Supreme Court Guts Obamacare: The Governor is applying to create a state-based marketplace in the event that federal marketplaces are dismantled.
Reader Poll: Majority Disapprove of Gov. Wolf’s Job Performance: Our latest reader poll presents some unwelcome news for the Governor.
Reader Poll: Do You Approve of the State Legislature’s Job Performance?: We ask our readers what they think of their representatives in Harrisburg.
PA-Sen: Sestak Taking “Forrest Gump” Criticism on the Chin: The 2016 Senate candidate contends his supposed weaknesses are actually his strengths.
PPP Poll: PA Voters Show Support for Higher Minimum Wage: Respondents said they were more likely to vote for candidates who are in favor of wage hikes.
Statewide
Capitolwire: Senate committee debates cap on punitive damages against personal care, nursing home facilities.
Capitolwire: Legislative Republicans not sold on Wolf’s insurance exchange plan.
PA Independent: Pennsylvania drillers, who already pay an impact fee, fighting new tax
StateImpact: Panel moves Quigley nomination to full senate, without recommendation
State Impact: New water-quality rule expected to affect energy companies
PLS Reporter: Cortes, three other Wolf nominees confirmed by Senate
PLS Reporter: Pension reform likely by the end of June
PLS Reporter: House Majority Leader Reed details “serious discussion” with governor during working meeting
Philadelphia
Commonwealth Confidential: who doesn’t like a feel good story? The PA police, apparently.
Inquirer: Toomey opposes bill to curtail phone data collection
Inquirer: Longtime Pa. lobbyist Wojdak dies
Daily News: Journalist has few sweet words for Hershey School in new book
The Big Tent: Santorum’s Sugar Daddy
WHYY NewsWorks: After guilty Philly lawmaker resigns, Pa. House speaker to set special election
WHYY Newsworks: Erie lawmaker introduces same-day voter registration bill
WHYY Newsworks: DEP nominee who’s criticized natural gas leasing up for a vote in Pa. Senate
SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Boyertown board adopts $106 million budget with 2.49 percent increase
Pottstown Mercury: ‘Gang war’ busts outlined at crime meeting
Bucks County Courier Times: Bristol Councilman Tony Devine reacts to slander, defamation suit claims
Daily Local News: Coatesville VA to hold town hall meeting
Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh to pay more than $100,000 to settle two complaints against police
Tribune Review: Former Grove City College president joins Pa. Gaming Control Board
Post-Gazette: Danko’s replacement on Allegheny City Council appointed
Post-Gazette: Mayor Peduto welcomes citizens at naturalization ceremony
Pittsburgh Business Times: Allegheny County Democrats urge passage of severance tax
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pennsylvania shale-gas impact fees decline 1 percent in 2014
Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Parents, teachers blast proposal
Observer-Reporter: House to dig into Senate GOP bill to overhaul public pensions
Beaver County Times: Despite election results, debate over changing school configuration continues in Moon
NEPA
Times Leader: Local leaders join coalition seeking redistricting solution
Times-Tribune: Senate panel neutral on Quigley DEP nomination
Citizens Voice: Hearing shows divide on severance tax
Pocono Record: Wolf seeks state authority over health insurance marketplace
South Central
Lancaster Intelligencer: House Speaker John Boehner makes stop in Lancaster
Lancaster Intelligencer: Wages don’t cover rent for low-income people in Lancaster County, study shows
Lebanon Daily News: Congressman Ryan Costello takes part in Amtrak crash hearing
Carlisle Sentinel: Steelton violates Right-to-Know Law
Patriot-News: Pedro Cortes dodges controversy to win Senate confirmation
Patriot-News: Three takeaways from state House hearing on pension system reforms
Patriot-News: State budget: Wolf, GOP leaders begin to lay a foundation
Patriot-News: Pa. State Police commissioner’s confirmation remains uncertain on eve of hearing
Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Jozwiak wants reduced charges for possessing marijuana
Reading Eagle: Facebook threat conviction of Bethlehem man tossed
WFMZ: Reading mayor hopeful: ‘This is for the soul of the city’
WFMZ: Senate may save Allentown, Bethlehem 911 centers
North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Bizzarro introduces bill for same-day voter registration
Centre Daily Times: Congress curbs NSA access to phone records while resurrecting spying powers
Centre Daily Times: Bill Clinton’s Wall Street cash puts wife in a tricky spot
Centre Daily Times: Where’s Sarah? Palin missing from presidential campaign events
Opinion
Tribune Review: Cost of a $15 minimum wage
York Dispatch: OP-ED: To ease the burden of loan debt, invest in Pa. students
Beaver County Times: Let’s make voting easier
Times-Tribune: Wolf right to try to go big
York Daily Record: Sen. Scott ‘Chopper’ Wagner says schools have plenty of funding
Lancaster Intelligencer: Equitable, adequate school funding important
Centre Daily Times: Wolf has put environmentalists in control
Inquirer: Made his own mark
Inquirer: Patriot Act toned down
Blogs
Citified: Can SEPTA Plausibly Offer an Uber-like Bus Service?
Citified: The Brief: Why Are Minorities Shunning Careers as Cops in Philly?
Liberty City Press: The Losers, part 1
Commonwealth Foundation: All Pennsylvanians Would Pay for Nation’s Highest Severance Tax
Bucks County News: Guest Columnist: Same-day registration will make voting easier
One Response
i just came across your ‘buzz’ for today and you missed the point of PA Senate could be confirming (but just did) and making history after Gov. Tom Wolf appointing the first transgendered woman as PA Pysician General Dr Rachel Levin.